Electrical apparatus



March 29, 1932..

E. S. FLARSHEHVI ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 29, 1932. v s, FLARSHEM 1,851,504

ELECTR I CAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q gnoemtvc March 29, 1932. E. s. FLARSHEIM ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 29, 1932. E. s. FLARSHEIM 1,351,504

7 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gn uzntoz 1? a; A/

104 1 v lxmm i Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED ST S- EDWIN: s. FLARsHEIM; or omcimvArroi-no, Assr'eNon Tommi LInB-nnF nsirniiir COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A coarona'rron 0F oHro ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Applicati on'filed August-26, 1927. Serial No. 215,541.

a multiple contact switch varies the power input, and a high'frcquency circuit wherein spark gaps having electrodes *adJustably spaced vary the power of the high frequency circuit.

Therefore, to. vary the power of the applied current it is necessary to change the spark gap electrode spacing which'in turn necess:tates or makesadvisable a correspondin; change in primary circuit power. This coordinated two circuit adjustment necessary for efiicient and satisfactory operation of the machine is an operation which requires skill of avariety foreign to the knowledge and training of the average physician. .If the adjustment of spark gap opening to power input. is 'not reasonably proportioned it can cause the high frequency output current to become irregular andfaradic in character, producing very undesirable muscular contraction.

The objectof this inventionris therefore to provide a therapeutic machine wherein one control handle adjusts the power of the cur rent to be applied'to the patient. I Another'object of the invention is to pro-- vide mechanism for controlling simultaneouslytwo separate but fu'nctionally'related circuits or circuit controlling elements.

In relation to a" therapeutic machine, the

invention comprises a connection betweenthe power inputvarying means such as a variometer or amultiple contact swltchof the primary circuit and'the spark gap of'the second'ary circuit whereby the primary current is'increased as the gaps are opened to provide adequate but not excessive primary circuit p ower.. Likewise, this connection prevents spark electrode spacing too great for the pri mary power, a condition which provides a current unsuitable for therapeutic" treatments. 5

The mechanism developed "and selected to constitute this connect1on,.compr1ses, an arcu+ ately movable. switch armadapted to efiect'a" plurality of circuit completing.contactsvse V lectively, a shaft. rotated with the ar'cuate which Figure lis a sectional view=takeni through a portion of a therapeuticmachine cabinet, showing the switch device for alteringthe power in theprimary circuit, the spark gap device, and the connection between these two devices. c

Figure 2 is a plan view of thespark gap device and the switch, shown in Figure 1 the. cabinet'in' which these devices' are mounted being removed for the purpose of illustrating the, mechanisms of the various devices;- i

Figure 3 is a detail View of the switcharm.

Figure 4 is'a sectional View taken" on line 7 4- -4, Figure 3. V i i c t Figure '5 is a front viewofthe spark gap device illustrating at. one-end thereof, the independent control for the spark gap. device. Figure 6 is. a sectional view taken on line" 6- -6, Figure 5, detailing the independent spark control device I v -Figure7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7, Figurefi, showing in detail one set of the plurality of sets of'spark gap electrodes used in the device; V Figure 8 is a sectional'view taken on line" 8''8, Figure 5, detailing the arrangement for unitarily va'ryingthe spacing of the setsofspark gap electrodes. V

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating the' electrical circuits concerned in this invention and showing, schematically, the me chanical movements employed for coordinating the movements of the switch and the spark gap device.

This invention comprises three devices in combination, (A) a device for altering the power;;in the primary circuit, (B) a spark gap device-in a highfrequency circuit, (C) a connectiondevice between said power varying device and the spark gap to coordinate their adjustments. 7 l V The spark gap device and the switch device as well as the multiple control for the spark gap are all the subject matter of separate patent applications.

Switch device For the purposes of illustration a portion of the cabinet is shown. This port-ion of the cabinet comprises two faces 1, 2, joining each other on a slight angle. Below the faces 1, 2, is mounted the uni-control mechanism.

Through face 1 extends a shaft or rod 4 on the outer end of which is a knob or handle 5 of hard rubber or other insulating material.

Below this face 1 of the cabinet is mounted.

a switch plate 6. Inserted in the switch plate are a plurality of contacts? with connections for primary circuit'wires extending from the lower face of the switch plate. Each contact comprises a headed member countersunk in the switch plate with the portion for connecting wires extending on the opposite side of the plate, said contact member riveted over a washer on the connection side of the plate to hold the contact in position. These contact members are disposed throughout an arc or circle concentric with the rod 4.

The shaft 4 rotates in a shouldered bushing 8. centrally mounted in the switch plate with respect to the are or circle of contacts,

.. which bushing is held in place by a retaining nut 9 threaded upon the side of the switch plate opposite to that upon which the shoulder bears.

The'shaft is held against axial movement in-thisbushing by means of a cotter pin and I washer on the shaft on the lower sideiof the bushing and a switch arm 10 rivetedto the shaft onthe upper side of the bushing. At

the outer end of the switch arm 10 are se cured to contact brushes 11, 12, adapted to make electrical connection with the arcuate- 1y. disposed contacts. These brushes are secured to'the switch arm by means of bolts, nuts and washers. Bolted to the switch plate 6 on the same side as the switcharm is a square contact plate 13 encircling the rotatable shaft 4 and insulatedtherefrom. One of the boltswhich holds this square contact plate'in position extends downwardly from the underside of the switch plate and constitutes a terminal 14 for electrical connec-' tion. V

A spring pressed contact 15 extends downward'ly from the switch arm to this square other sides of said brackets.

contact plate 13. This spring-contact 15 omprises a headed member, said head being adapted to contact the square plate. The headed member is slidably mounted in a guide sleeve 16 flanged on its lower end and threaded upon its upper end. A coiled spring 17 under compression is positioned between the member head and the guide sleeve flange to maintain the head in contact with the plate. This guide sleeve passes througli'an insulating bushing l8 flanged to withhold the guide sleeve flange from contact with the switch arm. An insulating washer 19is disposed on the upper surface of theswitch arm about the guide sleeve'and the parts. securedtogether by means of a washer anda nut threaded'upon the guide sleeve above this insulat lng washer 19. 1 The brush 11 at the outer end of the. switch arm is insulated from said switch arm. by means of insulating plates vice comprises a base secured to the cabi-' net and side standards or supports 26 mount ed at either end of the base. At the top of each standard is bolted an inwardly extending bracket 27 to which bracketis attached a stationary gap bar 28 preferably of marble,

porcelain or some other insulating material. The connection between the gap bar 28 and brackets 27 is made by means of-shoulder screws 29 extending through the bar and through the brackets, the bar being positioned on the shoulder screws by means of nuts and washers 'on either side of the bar,

the. shoulders 30 of said screws which rest.

upon the brackets, being riveted to the brackets on the sides opposite to the shoulders, and provided with eyelets at their ends on the inner faces of said side standards by means of studs '31 projecting from said faces is a yoke 32. This yoke consists of a rod 33 ex tending substantially the distance of the standard spacing and arms 34 extending from the ends of the rod 33.. It is these arms which are pivoted to the side standards, the

pivot points being located nearthe ends of the arms.

Pivoted to the ends of the arms by means of studs 35 extending inwardly from the arm ends are slide bars 36 held in position on the studs by cotter pins. The opposite ends of these slide bars 36-are slotted and the slots are entered'by studs 37-extending inwardly from the side standards. By

this construction the swinging of the yoke upon its pivots back and'forthreciprocates the slide bars 36 in substantially a straight Pivoted to the line.- zjOnztheiinner. faces ofithe slide bars 36-. arexriveted brackets. 38 to (which a movable .gap =bani39-issecured by. means of shoulderscrews 40 such as used on the stationarygap bar. A: lstudll is provided, at-each end of the bar39. having an eyelet disposed in aligne K511118111] with theeyelet 29 extending below the wopposinglface.ofthe stationary gap barre- '=;.ta1ning'brackets. A. coiled spring. 42 under tension isanchored at each endin these eye- .ilets in order tmdraw thegap bars together.

:afThese gaptbars 28 and-39 carry a: plurality wing gap. barby way of a pluralityof radiator tplates 45.0f which one or more are flexible.

tezo

These .spark electrodes 44 are preferablytipped with tungsten or some other substance .asuitable for spark gap purposes. They are Lrecessedasat .46 on the side opposite to the 1 activeface, said recesses extending almost to 1.: 'said active face and leaving but a thin partition of metal between the recess and the active face. The radiator plate 45* adjacent? the spark electrode is apertured and the elec-.

I :trode riveted to the plate through said aper- *rture.

.Asrdisclosed, four radiator plates 45 are used in connection .Witheach spark electrode.

Therthree radiator plates .nearest to the spark electrode are held together by means of spacing washers. 48 withran eyelet 49'running' through and. spread on each end. T hese spacing washersand eyelets are disposed rela-' .otively near thecenters of said radiator plates. I; Dueito the disposition of the mounting studs ofthe radiator plates the three inner plates: 145 are substantially rigidly secured together,-i mmoving as a unit in relationto or underthe= "tt flexing of the spring radiator plate45 All i of the radiator: plates are provided with apertures 50 aligned with the spark electrode re CBSSBS. V

In the gapbar behind and in alignment.

c with theapertures is mounted a sleeve .irflanged on the inner side of the gap bar,

= threaded'on'the outer side of the gap bar and secured thereto by means of a nut and washer. we

In the outer end of this sleeve 55 is a set screw or adjustable abutment 56 for a spacer rod 57 which extends through saidsleevethrough the apertures in said radiator platesinto the "far end of the recess of the spark electrode.

1 Therefore, by screwing in or out this set screw 1 the-spacer rod 57 is movedlongitudinally and the distance of the spark electrode from the gap bar carrying it correspondingly adjust- --1 ed. f'lhe requisite ameunt of-motion is'permittedby. the flexible' radiator plate adj acent to; the I gap bar- Itv is'therefore possibleb adjustingthis set screw to adjusteach spa-r electrode individually in relationto theagap bar. and bring theminto proper. alignment)? The spacerrod is preferably of invar or.-some -zothe r material having a; substantially zero coefficient of =zthermal expansion within. the range encountered 1n servlce. Theradiator plates protectthis invar spacer rod fromythd heat generated by thespark and wh at. littleexpansion there might be is compensated for by the very slight expansionof the sleeve 55:.ex-f

tending throughthel gap; bar. These. spark -.electrodes are. soadjusted that the flexiblei radiator 'plate is:under tension greater than can be relievedby expansion of the radiator plates: and: the electrode is thus held. firmly against the spacing member so thatzonlyithe' GXp2111S1OI1jOIE this spacing member in relat10n to its adjustable abutment changes or alters the position ofthe sparklelectrode in relation to itscarryingbar. Therefore a spark'g'ap' comprising two of:these spark electrodesiso mountedis notzsubject tochange or'alteration m' of gap distance as thetemperature .variesas a resultof the heat generated by the spark.

These individual sets of spark electrodes are connectedlin series by means of. flexible.

connectors: 58* (indicated diagrammatically in Figure 5)"extending between and secured :Thezradiator plate 4:5 adjacent to the gap bar is riveted to the third radiator plate at thev acorners by means of .shouldered studs 47. 1 This fourth radiator plate is of thinner matevrial .thanthe others to provide spring action to the radiator plates. I

V Connection device IThe spacing of the gap bars 28 and 89 and .the spark electrodes carried thereby is controlled fromthe handle 5 of the primary circuit switch. The connection between the two isasfollows:

. u On the rotatable switch shaft-preferably between the'switch plate. and the cabinetis disposed a cam 59. A'lever 60is pivoted on the unclersurface of thercabinet face 1 in This rfoller isheld against. the cam edge by means of a spring 60 and is adapted to be swung by the cam engagement. .Pivoted to the lever 60 intermediate its pivot and the roller is a connecting rod 63. vThe end of the connecting rod 63 pivoted to the lever is of brass. The main length 64 of the rod is ofinsulatingmaterial such as formica, this portion being screwed tothe brass at oneend and at the oppositeend isprovided with a brassbushing 65 which is inserted over one arm of a bell crank lever 66 which bell crank lever in turn is-pivotally mounted on a stud' 67 extending outwardly from the side standard of the spark gap. The'bell crank lever 66 is held on the: stud 67 by means of a The 'other arm of mentioned arm and is provided with an outwardly extending stud 68 which makes slidable connection in a slot 69 in .another lever 70 fulcrumed near its'opposite end to an arm 71 pivotally mounted as at 71 to the side standard. These fulcrum points .and'

Divots unless otherwise s ecified .com rise 7 studs, washers and cotter pins.

On the end of the lever 70, opposite to the end which has sliding connection with the bell crank lever is pivoted .a link 72, the

other end of which is pivoted'to the outer -end' of the spark gap yoke 32. Motion is therefore transmitted from the uni-control handle to the movable spark gap bar via re-- 'duced motion mechanism comprising three.

levers, namely,the lever whichcarries the cam roller, the bell crank lever, and the lever V engaged by the bell crank leverMThe adj ustment of the spark gap .by the uni-control i handle is therefore very delicate.

. In order to provide spark gap adjustment independent of the switch handle and to permit. the opening of the gaps for'c'leaning' purposes, the arm 71 to which the lever adjacent to the link 72 joining'the yoke is pivoted is attached to a sleeve .73 pivotedto the side standard of the gap by means of a longstud'M extending through the sleeve. On the outer end of this sleeve 7 3 is a second arm $5 extending radially therefrom and to this arm is bolted a bracket- 76 forming a forked end on the arm. In this fork a block 77 is pivoted on studs 78 mounted in the fork, the block being provided with'a centrally extending threaded aperture. Through this threaded aperture extends a sleeve 79 and through the sleeve slidably extends a rod 80 on the upper end of whichis a knob. 81 of insulating material projecting through the upper surface 2 of the cabinet. The rod 80 is rotatably connected to the threaded sleeve 79 by means of a pin'82 extending from each side of the rod and engaged 1n a slotvin the lower end of the sleeve. The

--turning of thisknob raises or lowers the block through the sleeve, this raising or lowering the armof the sleeve to which is pivoted. the lever intermediate the bell crank lever and the link connected to the yoke.

This provides adjustment for the spark gap independent of that provided by turning the switch handle. The knob projecting from the top of the cabinet is not axially secured and therefore, raising or lifting this knob --lifts the block which in turn lifts the yoke via a connecting link which lowers the mov-' able gap bar which separates the spark electrodes for examination, adjustment or cleaning. The pin and slot connection is pro- 1 vided between the rod and sleeve so that the toe operator cannot force the gaps together when they are held apart 'for cleaning. The

pin drops below the slot and free of the sleeve when the handle or knob is releasedand the 'rotative connection is therefore broken preventing screwing down of the block and closing of the gaps whenthey are otherwise held apart.

I The spark gap mechanism therefore is pro vided with four controls, (.1) the spacingof each individual electrode from its carrying bar, (2) v the delicate. control through the switch handle, the independent control of the gapas. a unit through the handle in the top of the cabinet, (4) the rapid opening of the gaps by lifting this last: specified handle.

It is tobe noted that differential motion between the primarycircuit control handle and the spark electrode movement is effected primarily by the use of the cam. V This differential is a function of the cam curvature and can be either constant or varied.

. Another spark gap mechanism non-sub ject to temperature change applicable to this type of machine is that descrlbed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No.

161,931, filed January 18, 1927, patented December 18, 1928, No. 1,696,157. i e

The inboundsup ply wires 85, '86, connect to switch 87, then one of them 85 runs to one end of choke'coil 89 theother inbound.

wire 86 runs to the primary 91 of. step-up transformer 92 then to the central point of the primary circuit. regulating! switch 93. The regulating. switch 98 has a variable contact switch arm 94 which connects to the buttons 95 of said switch whereby turning this switch arm to the right cuts into circuit less of the turns of choke coil 89,.andturning it to the left cuts in more turns on said choke coil winding.v The switch arm 94 is equipped with a double set of contacts, and across these contacts is floated separate-small inductance coil 96 to prevent ashort circuit (if-adjacent buttons, which would be the case if there were-no means of generating a, counter elec-. trom'ot1ve force when both, contacts on the lever arm 9a are resting on adjacent contact buttons, The coil 96 is so proportioned, however, that in order to generate the required counter electro-motlve force a comparatively high flux density is-necessary, thereby allowthrough the condensers and through the primary portion of ,resonat0ii qwinding $101.

The previously described mechanism coordlnating the movements of the switch lever and the spark gap electrodes is shown schematically at 108. 7

Thus is provided a machine for therapeutic application of high frequency current. said machine characterized by many novel features of construction, including, the connection between the power varying means in the primary and high frequency circuits to which feature is directed the following claims by which alone I desire. to be limited.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In amachine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, primary circuit, means for controlling thepower in said circuit, a high frequency circuit, a plurality of spark gaps in said high frequency circuit, and mechanical connection between said means and said spark gaps whereby the increase of the power in the primary circuit increases the electrode spacing of the spark gaps collectively.

2. In a machine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, a primary circuit, means for controlling the power in said circuit, a high frequency circuit. a spark gap in a said high frequency circuit, a cam adapted :to be rotated by the movement of said means, and lever mechanism connected to said spark gap and adapted to be operated by said cam to increase the electrode spacing as the power in the primary circuit is increased.

3. In amachine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, a primary circuit, a switch arm, a rotatable shaft from which the switch arm extends radially, said switch arm adapted to make a plurality of circuit completing contacts selectively to vary the power in said primary circuit, a-cam mounted on said rotatable shaft, a high frequency circuit, a spark gap in said high frequency circuit, and a mechanism to be actuated by said cam, said mechanism connected to said spark gap to increase the spacing of the electrodes as the power is increased in the primary circuit.

4. In a machine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, means for adjusting simultaneously yet differentially a plurality of circuit-controlling elements, said means comprising arotatable shaft, a circuit controlling mechanism connected directly to said shaft and adapted to be adjusted by the rotation thereof, a cam mounted on said shaft, a member adapted to be actuated by said cam,

and a second circuit controlling mechanism I connected with said member and adapted to be adjusted thereby differentially inrespect to said first circuit controlling mechanism, said differential being a function of the cam curvature.

5. In amachine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, a primary circuit including a power varying means, a high frequency circuit, and a spark gap in said high frequency circuit, the spacing of the gap electrodes being non-subject to temperature changes, and mechanical connection between said gap and said power varying-- means whereby the gap is opened as the primary circuit power is increased.

6. In a machine for the therapeutic appli{ cation of high frequency current, a primary circuit, a switch for controlling the power in rality of spark gaps in said high frequency clrcult, and mechanical connectlon between .saidswitc h and said spark gaps whereby the increase of the power in the primary circuit 7 increases the electrode spacing of the spark gaps collectively. 7

In a machine for the therapeutic application of high frequency current, a primary circuit, a switch for controlling the power in said circuit, a spark gap in said high frequency circuit, a cam adapted to be rotated by said means, and reduced motion lever mechanism, whereby the increasing of'the power in the primary circuit increases the. electrode spacing ofthe spark gap. I 1

9. In a machine for the therapeuticappli cation of high frequency current, a primary circuit, means for controlling the power in said circuit, a high frequency circuit, a spark gap in said high frequency circuit, sad spark gapcomprising,a plurality of spaced electrodes, and mechanical connection between said means and said spark gap whereby the" variation of the power in the primary circuit said circuit, a high frequency circuit, a pluf unitarily varies the spacing of the plurality of'space d electrodes; i In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name.

' S. FLARSHEIM. 

